Along the riverside there are small patches of land between
scattered boulders, which have become the natural habitat for a
majestic flower-the blue poppy. Known as Meconopsis aculeata to botanists, it is a solitary flower and has the colour of the
sky at dawn. Like most poppies, it is open and wide, droops slightly, has a centre of golden stamens, and is so fragile that
its petals are detached merely by brushing against them. It protects itself with sharp spines arranged on the stem and buds.
An unobstrusive flower with unsurpassable delicacy and grace is the Fritillaria roylei. As the green bells on the springy
stem nod and dip vivaciously.in the monsoon wind, you may be tempted to strain your ears to hear their tinkling. The Corydalis cashemiriana, with narrow pipe-like stems
and flowers tipped in dark blue grow in colonies of thousands. A plant which is one of the rarest and the most beautiful
of its family-the lily-like Nomocharis oxypetala revels in the sun on well-warmed, well drained meadows and slopes of the
Valley. The rose-coloured Cyprip edium himalaicum has earned the popular title of lady's slipper' and there are so many of
these flowers that they imbue the slopes with a rosy glow.
The pinkish glow of the Valley can be attributed to the large colonies of Androsace. Marsh orchid. Geranium. Pediculsris and
the carpetting Thymus. all in near pink. Splashes of golden lily and creamy bell-shaped Codonopsis are also seen.The pink
Pedicularis gives way to its yellow cousin-the mainstay of the August bloom. Yellow flowers bedeck the Valley as July
proceeds - Pedicularis, Grandiflora. Ligularia, Saxifraga and Potentillas. The Potentillas are the first to appear and last
to disappear in the Valley.
The king of the Himalayan flowers is Saussurea obvallata, popularly known as Brahma Kamal. It is a graceful creamish flower
with brown and red stamens in the centre.
The petals are loosely open, like those of a lotus. A fully developed flower is six to eight inches tall. This flower is
found on the higher slopes of the valley which are not easily accessible. It can be found at heights above 3,800 mtrs. all
over the Central Himalayas.
General
Information
How
to Reach
Air : Nearest airport is Jolly Grant, 306 kms. (Dehradun 333 kms.) Rail : Nearest railhead is Rishikesh, 289 kms.
Approach :- The Valley is approachable from Govindghat. There are two ways to reach Govindghat.
After crossing the Alaknanda river at Govindghat, an ascending bridle path along Bhyundar Ganga leads to Ghanghria which is
13 kms. away from Govindghat, from where the Valley is only 3 kms.
Hospital/ Market/Bank : Joshimath Best time to visit : Mid July to mid August
Accommodation
1) TOURIST REST HOUSE - GHANGHRIA
Deluxe - 4 Rooms
Executive - 4 Rooms
Dormitory - 9 beds
Electricity - Available
Reservation - General Manager (Tourism)
scattered boulders, which have become the natural habitat for a 
known as Brahma Kamal. It is a graceful creamish flower 
